Eight domains of action in Resolution A/53/243(UN Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace)*Culture of peace through education*Sustainable economic and social development*Respect for all human rights*Equality between women and men*Democratic participation*Understanding, tolerance and solidarity*Free flow of information and knowledge*International peace and security

TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity

PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

See website

ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.

2009:

Despite continuing conflict and violence,Afghan civil society produced one of the mostvisible Peace Day mobilizations on the globeduring September and September 21. Amid aPeace Day ceasefire agreed by the Taliban andNATO forces, a Peace Day polio immunizationdrive reached 1.2 million children across sevenprovinces (UNAMA)! Last year, 1.6 millionchildren were vaccinated. The drive includedfood delivery, and was a joint effort by healthauthorities and NGOs including: WHO,UNICEF and Red Cross.

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan(UNAMA) tracked Peace Day activities on theirwebsite. UNAMA and other civil society groupslaunched a nation-wide “What are you doingfor Peace in Afghanistan?” campaign. PeaceDay TV spots were produced in both Dari andPashto and broadcast on Afghan television (canbe seen on YouTube). A special Peace DayMagazine was produced.

Kabul: 1000 attended a concert for Peace atthe historical Babur Gardens, organized byAfghan Civil Society Organization for Peace (acoalition of 240 groups. White doves werereleased into the sky at Kabul Headquarters ofUNAMA (9/22). Timor Hakimyar, director ofAfghan Civil Society Organisations Network forPeace and the Foundation for Culture and CivilSociety said: "Peace is not only resolvingconflict but the process of living together andhaving a good life. Peace is a right and it willguarantee the dignity and honor of everyhuman being.”

Youth in Action Association (YIAA) organized aPeace walk of young Afghans. Dozens joinedand carried messages for all parties involved inthe War in Afghanistan to put an end to the warand resolve all issues through Peacefulnegotiations and dialogue. The event receivedwide public support and was covered by anumber of Afghan media outlets. In an openletter to the UN Secretary General, YIAA calledfor an intervention by the United Nations tobring all parties to the negotiation table (9/24).

Bamiyan: UN Education and Cultural agency(UNESCO) celebrated Peace Day duringInternational Literacy Day where studentsshared their experiences and prayed for Peacein the country (9/16). A kite flying competitionwas organized by the UN’s Refugee Agency(UNHCR). 200 attended “Bamiyan Trek forPeace”, including: students, orphans, UNagencies and civil society members who walkedto the protected lakes of Shah Foladi using amine-free route. Also participating: OurJourney to Smile, UN Environment ProtectionBamiyan, and UNAMA Bamiyan.

Other events- Badakshan: Peace discussion inorganized by AIHG, Kabul: Cricket Camp forPeace, Maimana: painting in schools, Kunduz:1000 people at a Peace Day gathering tosupport development projects; a street whichwitnessed 3 suicide bombings was renamed“Peace Street”. Bamiyan: sport and paintingcompetitions, opening of the first Peace Park byuniversity students, seminars on the role ofwomen in Peace organized by the Departmentof Women Affairs, a ceremony to freeBamiyan’s heritage sites of landmines by theMine Action Coordination Centre ofAfghanistan and Afghanistan’s first gold medalwinner led a march of orphans.

2007:

ASCHIANA About 20 kids visited Radio and Television Afghanistan (RTA) and told the general director that they've had enough war and that their only wish is peace and security. Some of their messages were broadcast via KNN Afghanistan.

In the Central Highlands around 200 people took part in a clean-up campaign for peace in Band-e-Amir national park.Cooperation Center for Afghanistan (CCA) organized a peace event for about 450 people in Kabul, Bamyan, Balkh and Harat.

Disbandment of Illegal Arms Groups Hundreds waited for former commanders who used to hold weapons and are now involved with the peace process to disarm and wait for the declaration of Saighan as a Peace District by the Governor of Bamyan, Mrs. Habiba Sorabi. The Saighan Police Headquarters was dressed up with peace posters and messges.

Estleqal High School, Kabul. Around 1,500 people gathered at one of Kabul's best known schools, the Estleqal High School, to watch and take part in performances, kite flying, songs and prayers for peace.

In the eastern city of Jalalabad at least 500 people joined a peace march, a day after thousands poured through the streets of the western city of Herat in what media reports described as one of the biggest rallies Afghanistan has ever seen.

Kabul Girls High School: 50 high school girls painted white, as a symbol of peace, over their gray school. The media arrived with their cameras and interviewed some of the girls' reactions.

Enthusiastic celebrations took place in Kandahar and Zabul provinces on Thursday, and doves and balloons were released into the air.

President Hamid Karzai released a Peace Day statement via national radio saying that Afghanistan was committed to doing everything in its power to make peace permanent for the nation and region.

PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade?

On a global level, reported events for the International Day of Peace continue to grow year after year (see the website listed above):

In the 2005 Report, 155 Peace Day events in 47 countries are presented.

The 2007 records show that:* We had 623 commitments across the world* 70 countries* 225 cities (outside of the USA)* 42 US states* An estimate of nearly 500,000 participants* An average of 500 people per event

2009 annual report listed 700+ events

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

not reported

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?

The International Day of Peace is an annual event.

GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??